News

Every week during the 2025-26 academic year, ten Twin Cities high schoolers traded their classrooms for research labs, greenhouses, a poultry barn and graduate seminars, getting an early look at what careers in science actually look like. Dominic Petrella, associate professor of turfgrass systems here in HORT, hosted two students from Great River School. "The students completed greenhouse tasks like propagating plant material, collecting data on experiments, and utilizing equipment to measure plant health," Petrella said. Learn more about what these students learned here!

Raise a glass and honor the cold-hardy Marquette grape, introduced by the University of Minnesota twenty years ago!

This grape has helped shape the cold-climate wine industry and can hold its own against famous cousins like Merlot or Syrah.

Whether you’re enjoying a bottle from a local Minnesota winery or a vineyard in Quebec, you’re tasting years of UMN innovation—cheers!

Congratulations to Brandon Miller on being awarded the KcNight Land-Grant Professorship!

University of Minnesota researchers found dormant seeding can improve turf establishment. Tall fescue performed best and helped reduce weeds compared to other species. This method offers a practical alternative when ideal fall seeding conditions are missed. Learn more!

Introducing Jillian Turbeville, a Researcher with the Turfgrass Science team! Learn about her five-year journey at the University of Minnesota, tracing her path from a Wisconsin dairy community to award-winning turfgrass research and a passion for plant innovation!

The Department of Horticultural Science is pleased to announce Dr. Neil Mattson, Professor in the Horticulture Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, as the recipient of the 2026 Department of Horticultural Science Alumni Award! Dr. Neil Mattson has made outstanding contributions to greenhouse efficiency and performance, especially in energy reduction through lighting.

By ditching the traditional single-head variety for sprouting broccoli, MN organic farmers can avoid the devastating crop rot that often ruins a single harvest. This study by UMN researchers shows that these multi-stemmed alternatives not only survive harsh field conditions better but also keep the produce coming all season long, proving that sometimes, losing the head is the smartest move a plant can make.

Our own Brandon Miller and Laura Irish-Hanson sat down with MPR host Angela Davis last week to talk about the science behind maple syrup, how climate change is affecting the sap season in Minnesota, and what trees may better withstand climate change.

In honor of Women’s History Month and the United Nation's International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, CFANS is proud to spotlight alumnae who are driving innovation and resilience across our local and global agrifood systems. These women exemplify the essential, yet often unrecognized, roles that farmers play in nourishing our communities and securing a sustainable future for all.

Rachel Sannerud earned a degree in horticulture in 2015 from the University of Minnesota.

Researchers are revolutionizing Chrysanthemum breeding by focusing on "crop ideotypes" that prioritize 13 key traits, from climate resilience to flowering speed. By blending traditional hybridization with modern molecular tools, experts are overcoming reproductive barriers to create sturdier, more vibrant cultivars. This integrated approach ensures the next generation of flowers meets the high-speed demands of the global floral market.